Thank you all for the support and reviews! I am sorry it has taken me so long to update. Sometimes the ideas just come and sometimes they don't. This chapter is a little bit longer, so hopefully that helps. Please keep reviewing! That is the best motivation for me to keep the story going.

I don't think this mess between Regina and Robin is going to be a quick or easy fix, so bear with me. These first few chapters will probably be pretty bleak, but I'm hoping that the final outcome will make up for it.

Chapter 3

"I know why you're here, but it is not necessary. You have nothing to apologize for."

They sat in the dining room with the table between them. Regina initially thought to invite Robin into the sitting room, but she quickly remembered the empty plates and wine bottles from their afternoon together. She had not yet cleaned them up. She winced as her heart clenched once again at the thought of her sudden change of fortune. No. She would need a more formal setting than that, if she was going to maintain any kind of composure in front of him.

Robin had noted the new distance and formality between them and saw the wisdom in it, even though it pained him as much as her. He was still reeling from this turn of events and, although he was overjoyed to see his long-lost wife alive and well, he could not shake the sense of misery that came when he realized what it meant for his newly kindled relationship with Regina.

He had spent the last three hours holding Marian's hand as he introduced her to his new friends and showed her to their campsite in the nearby woods. She was so happy to be with him again, and with Roland, that she didn't notice the hesitancy with which he held her hand or the brief, concerned glances exchanged between Little John and some of the other Merry Men. They had all had reservations about their leader's relationship with the former Evil Queen, but each had decided to give her the benefit of the doubt when they saw Robin's newfound happiness with her.

Once Marian and Roland were settled in for the night and sleeping soundly, Robin crept silently from the tent. He had seen the disappointment in Marian's eyes when he made excuses to avoid sharing a bed with her, but it had not felt right to sleep with Marian when he could not get Regina's face out of his mind. He had to see her, to talk to her.

Little John sat quietly stoking the fire and saw Robin exit the dark tent. Robin approached him looking fairly miserable.

"John, I… I need to go speak with someone. Could you keep an eye on Marian and Roland for a little while?"

Little John nodded and placed a bracing hand on his friend's shoulder. "Do what you need to do Robin. We're all here beside you."

And now Robin sat only an arm's length from the woman he knew he held most dear. It felt like a thousand miles. He studied her face carefully as he tried to string a coherent thought out of the turmoil of emotions he was experiencing. She looked so calm, so resolute. So very much like the queen of her domain. She really was beautiful.

Robin was amazed, at first, by Regina's apparent composure. He felt like he was about to fall apart, and was struggling to maintain command of his own voice. It might have been her shining eyes that gave her away, however, or maybe Robin could just sense it. Regina's heart was broken.

"Regina," he slowly began. She studied him carefully as he struggled to find the right words. Finally he said, "I looked for you… at the diner. You… it was as if you had vanished. I had wanted to introduce you to… to Marian." She could see the apology in his eyes as he uttered the name, and she knew that he recognized how much pain he was bringing her.

"I immediately felt so torn," Robin went on in hopeless honesty. "She noticed… Marian saw that I was looking around for someone and I could see the confusion and hurt in her eyes…" He broke off again, forcing himself to look into those deep brown eyes he had come to love so fully. "It was then that I knew, Regina. I knew that I have to give Marian and our little family a chance."

Regina had remained still and poised to this point and although she had not permitted herself the slightest shred of hope, she still felt the poignancy of the blow his words brought upon her. She felt physically crushed. Unable to face him, she dropped her eyes to her clasped hands on the table and softly said, "I know. I understand."

Her whispered acquiescence struck Robin in a similar blow and he rushed on, desperate to make her understand. "Regina, I realized that, in Marian's mind, death never did part us. She sees me as I was decades ago. As her husband. I feel I am duty bound to honor the commitment I made to her. I can't bear the thought of making her unhappy, especially since I have spent so much of my life only wishing I could see her and hold her again."

Regina flinched at the image his words brought to her mind. She could not take any more. Holding up her hand to deflect him, she quietly replied, "You are right, Robin. Really, I understand. You both deserve all the happiness in the world and this is your chance." She paused before adding, with just a hint of bitterness, "I find that people generally find the endings they deserve, and this only proves it."

Robin had been afraid of this. He knew that she would likely see this turn of events as yet another punishment her past had entitled her to, but he did not believe that. Shaking his head, he reached forward to take her hand. She pulled it away.

Hot tears of shame made new tracks down her cheeks as she looked down at her now tightly clasped hands. Robin only hesitated for a moment before slowing reaching across the table, pushing her dark hair behind one ear and cupping her wet cheek in his hand.

Regina could not help but lean into his touch and she reached up to gently hold his hand in place. She pressed his hand to her face and tried to savor the last moments she had with him, before she dropped the bomb she knew would blow him away from her forever.

"I killed her, Robin," she whispered as she finally pulled his hand away. "Emma rescued her from my dungeon. She was there to serve as an example of what happened when Snow White was given aid." Regina was struggling to maintain eye contact, and so she didn't notice that this information did not create the stir she had expected. Robin's expression of sadness and sympathy went unchanged.

One more sob escaped as Regina suddenly stood. She looked around helplessly, as if hoping to flee, before forcefully adding, "I deserve exactly what I am getting, Robin. Please just go. Go and be happy, but don't worry about me."

With that said, any sliver of composure left Regina. She had to get out.

She turned to rush out of the dining room and up the large staircase, but Robin stood and caught her gently by the hand. She started at the unexpected touch and turned fearfully back to face him.

"Wait, Regina…" He knew that this wouldn't really change their situation, but he felt it was important that she knew the truth.

"Regina, I…" He struggled to begin, choosing words very carefully. "You need to… I want you to know that I always knew what had happened."

Her eyes widened in surprise. What exactly was he saying?

"After Marian disappeared, I did not rest until I learned what had become of her. There were…" he paused, looking anxiously at her, "There were many witnesses to her arrest."

Regina flinched at the thought. Of course there were. That had been the point.

Robin began to caress her sorrowful face. Standing in on the landing in her foyer, they were now closer than they had been since before entering the diner so long ago.

"The point I am trying to make," he said softly but firmly, "is that I knew exactly what the Evil Queen was capable of long before Roland could even walk."

He gently wiped a few stray tears from her cheek with his thumb before continuing. "She is gone, Regina. She has been gone for a long time and I know without a down that she is not coming back."

Leaning closer, the outlaw placed a chaste but lingering kiss high on the queen's cheekbone. He could feel her trembling with grief against him and knew his own emotions would not remain in check much longer.

With fresh tears pooling in his own eyes, Robin met her gaze once more. "You, Regina," he said forcefully. "You deserve a lifetime of happiness. I only wish I was to be the one to share it with you."

With one final embrace, he was gone. Regina stood numb, unable to process what she was feeling.

Grief, more than anything. She felt an overwhelming sense of heartbreak. There was also confusion, however. As she listened to him quickly retreat down her front steps, Regina tried to make sense of what he had said.

He had known? He had known all along?

Her heart felt a strange flutter as she made the connection that had been so important to him.

He had loved her, wanted her, anyway.

She knew this realization would probably bring her a little bit of comfort later, but now it only seemed to sharpen the blade of her loss.

A small noise behind her brought Regina out of her reverie and she turned to see Snow standing at the base of the staircase. Regina tried hastily to dry her eyes and clear her throat. Snow's expression brought Regina to a halt and her arms dropped feebly to her sides.

The princess smiled sadly, shaking her head as she approached the despairing queen. "It's okay, Regina," she said bracingly as she opened her arms and stepped forward to embrace her stepmother. With a final sigh of resignation and helplessness, Regina allowed herself to be enfolded in her former enemy's arms. It only took a moment for the queen to return the embrace with wholehearted desperation.

I know! I know it is awful and sad! I just think that Robin's to noble of a guy to just leave his beloved wife in the lurch, but his nobility is what makes him perfect for Regina. I promise it will get better. Luckily Regina now has an awesome, if unconventional, support system. Tell me what you think!